Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Wherever You Are
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is an annual worldwide event held on the third Thursday in May to promote digital accessibility. According to the GAAD Foundation, “digital accessibility refers to the ability of people with disabilities/impairments to independently consume and/or interact with digital (e.g., web, mobile) applications and content.”
Around the world, universities, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and others host lectures, workshops, hackathons, and more—all designed to raise awareness, build skills, and encourage both the remediation of existing products and the creation of new, accessible ones. While there is no single comprehensive list of global events, you can search online to find activities that interest you.
The University of Washington (UW) is celebrating GAAD 2026 on May 21 with a full day of presentations and panels featuring speakers from across a wide range of UW units and disciplines. This year’s hybrid event will highlight and advance digital accessibility efforts at the UW. The event is open to UW faculty, staff, and students.
For more information about the UW event—including the agenda and registration details (for members of the UW community)—visit UW GAAD 2026.
